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    Book Review: 'The Party Worker' by Omar Shahid Hamid

    Written by: Samar F. Zia
    Posted on: March 20, 2017 | | 中文

    'The Party Worker' is Omar Shahid Hamid's third novel (source: Geo TV)

    As I started reading The Party Worker, Omar Shahid Hamid’s recently launched third novel at the Karachi Literature Festival 2017, I quickly realised that this new book quite easily qualifies as a spin-off, though not a sequel, of his very first novel, The Prisoner. Much to the delight of his readership, a lot of the key characters from The Prisoner resurface in this latest endeavour. That being said, whether or not one has read The Prisoner is inconsequential. The plot of The Party Worker primarily revolves around the fictional political party, United Front Party (UFP), focusing on the development as well as the exploits and injustices perpetrated by this outfit that was birthed in The Prisoner. Besides UFP, the Chandios and the great Akbar Khan are also referenced several times in this novel, weaving a fictional vision extrapolated from the many facets that were mentioned yet remained unexplored in The Prisoner. However, what is different in this book is the point of narration.

    Where The Prisoner was told from the perspective of the good guys, focusing on the efforts of the police to eradicate and overcome evil elements in society, The Party Worker tends to be more egalitarian, lending a voice to the thoughts and sentiments of evildoers. With a plethora of characters, the narrative unfolds from the perspective of four diverse protagonists. In contrast to The Prisoner, the least suspected take centre stage at the end. Without giving too much of the story away, the book aims to expose stakeholders and corrupt factions in Karachi. Set against the backdrop of the metropolis, this crime drama relays the city’s resilience. The body politic, underbelly, and political aspirants all come into play with a few slick comparisons to the law and order practice in the States.

    Interestingly, the city is treated much like a cake, up for the taking. And as sad as that sounds, if you are from Karachi, you know it to be true. Political strongholds, honourable gangsters, and aspiring unscrupulous villains form the crux of the book; the spiral from which the story springs. The Party Worker unquestionably borrows from fact, but is masterfully cloaked in fiction.

    This particular piece of literature showcases Hamid’s ability to render humour via his writing. There are quite a few unexpected humorous punchlines in this otherwise solemn and introspective oeuvre, not the least of which are the names he has chosen for his characters. From Pichkari to Mian Mithoo to Baba Dacait, all names are very aptly applied to the persons shaping the tale.

    Launch of 'The Party Worker' at KLF 2017 - The Party Worker by Omar Shahid Hamid

    Launch of 'The Party Worker' at KLF 2017 (source: Newsline Magazine)

    Despite the comical names, the material is serious and the book is no fairytale. It has its share of blood and gore, serving as a real eye-opener from beginning to end. Curiously, the text has a lot of Urdu words, written unapologetically without italics or explanation. At first, the use of common Urdu words in mainstream English writing appears a bit odd, but as the story develops, a sense of reality is maintained with the lingo, which goes back to reinforcing the book’s inspiration from real life. It is perhaps also aimed at a more local (read desi) readership.

    Hence, from language to narration, from characters to storyline, The Party Worker represents an unconventional style and subject matter, unique to the author. It is definitely worth a read.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021